Former Resident Sues Town, Police

South Windsor News Notes

March 06, 1996

A former resident has sued the town, the police department and two officers.

The town late last week received a copy of the lawsuit, filed Jan. 30 in U.S. District Court in Hartford, which contends that Colleen Slattery's privacy was invaded when police disclosed that she was being treated for alcoholism.

The notice also states that an alcohol treatment center, BlueRidge Center in Bloomfield, should not have told police that Slattery was being treated for alcohol abuse. The suit also names Quintin Rueckert, an employee at BlueRidge, and Blue Ridge Health Services Inc.

``This is a matter of patient confidentiality and is under review,'' said Pete Mobilia, a spokesman for BlueRidge. ``We are unable to discuss this.''

The suit stems from a January 1994 incident in which Sgt. Eugene T. Field and Robert Hagedorn, an officer at the time, were called to Slattery's home for medical assistance because she seemed drunk. A police report on the incident stated Slattery was bring treated for alcoholism.

Hagedorn retired from the department last year. Matthew D. Reed, spokesman for the police department, said the department had no comment.

Slattery, now of East Hartford, previously filed a complaint with the state Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities. The agency dismissed the complaint in October.

Also pending is a March 1995 suit in which Slattery alleges the officers used excessive force when they tried to get her to go to the hospital. Police officials have said no excessive force was used.